What could kill and eat 30 chickens in 1 night and not leave a single body.

[DuckMom2017]

Ok. I'm back. Just went and talked to my nextdoor neighbor about 1000 yards away. I found 2 of the 2 month old leghorns and the Swamp Hen Momma(Shamo/Red Jungle Fowl mix) that I had to hatch and raise them. They were lucky and escaped the Great Massacre, but I think they were the only ones. He said he's had quite a few of his come up missing even through he has a couple of huge white herding dogs. Below is the skat with a ruler next to it, and broken up pics. It has died up and is about 30% smaller than when it was fresh. Another thing, the morning after the Massacre, the blood was fresh bright red and still wet. Only an hour later when I showed it to the little lady, it had become dark and dried. Didn't get anything in the trap cage last night. I've read coyotes won't go into cages hardly ever (unless they are disguised) so I may build a couple of snares. I hope the pics come out clear enough to zoom into. About to go get pics of the blood splatter. View attachment 1230818 View attachment 1230821 View attachment 1230820 View attachment 1230818 View attachment 1230819 View attachment 1230820 View attachment 1230821 View attachment 1230818 View attachment 1230819 View attachment 1230820 View attachment 1230821

This looks like some I found in my yard last week, but I thought it was deer poo

 

[Welshies]

I'd say fox. They are very cunning. Everything screams fox to me.
Oh, and if it is a coyote, or a fox- they will be hard to trap. No live traps for these guys. Even snares are obvious to them. Buy one, get rid of the scent, and then place it with rubber gloves.

This looks like some I found in my yard last week, but I thought it was deer poo

Deer poop looks wayyy different. Like this:

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

I've narrowed my verdict down to two:

Raccoon or Fox.

If more of your flock turns up, I'd go with raccoon. If entire flock is gone, I'd go with fox.

Start searching your area for a fox den. Follow your nose. They are mating this time of year and they emit a strong scent. They will be close to a water source...and usually choose an area that drains well. Walk in a circle around your coop, increasing the diameter with each pass. Keep your head down for tracks. Look for their den in hollowed logs, holes with scattered dirt...think a dog digging a hole and any abandoned groundhog holes that have been enlarged. A fox would have brought the whole cache back to the den. There will be evidence.

 

[Welshies]

I've narrowed my verdict down to two:

Raccoon or Fox.

If more of your flock turns up, I'd go with raccoon. If entire flock is gone, I'd go with fox.

Start searching your area for a fox den. Follow your nose. They are mating this time of year and they emit a strong scent. They will be close to a water source...and usually choose an area that drains well. Walk in a circle around your coop, increasing the diameter with each pass. Keep your head down for tracks. Look for their den in hollowed logs, holes with scattered dirt...think a dog digging a hole and any abandoned groundhog holes that have been enlarged. A fox would have brought the whole cache back to the den. There will be evidence.

They won't have a den. Foxes don't den at this time of year. In fact no canine dens during winter. Common misconception. They abandon their dens once the pups are 4 or so months old. Move them to a rendezvous area, then abandon that. They choose new dens (or return to an old one) every spring. April or so. They have no need for dens this time of year.
Look for small, dog like tracks.

 

[Welshies]

I've narrowed my verdict down to two:

Raccoon or Fox.

If more of your flock turns up, I'd go with raccoon. If entire flock is gone, I'd go with fox.

Start searching your area for a fox den. Follow your nose. They are mating this time of year and they emit a strong scent. They will be close to a water source...and usually choose an area that drains well. Walk in a circle around your coop, increasing the diameter with each pass. Keep your head down for tracks. Look for their den in hollowed logs, holes with scattered dirt...think a dog digging a hole and any abandoned groundhog holes that have been enlarged. A fox would have brought the whole cache back to the den. There will be evidence.

Also, to add on to that... A fox will have buried it all within 12-24 hours.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

They won't have a den. Foxes don't den at this time of year. In fact no canine dens during winter. Common misconception. They abandon their dens once the pups are 4 or so months old. Move them to a rendezvous area, then abandon that. They choose new dens (or return to an old one) every spring. April or so. They have no need for dens this time of year.
Look for small, dog like tracks.

If they scored a cache of 30 chickens...you can bet your sweet butt they took them to stash in or around their den...or similar location. Remember, OP is in Alabama...not a typical winter as in the north.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Eh...I'm not claiming to be any sort of animal expert. I'm just going by what I've been taught and experienced. I've spent 40+ years in the bush, 32 of it hunting. The books (and now Google) are helpful tools but sometimes them there pesky animals don't read and do their own thing. I wish you the best, @EggWalrus .

 

[DuckMom2017]

I'd say fox. They are very cunning. Everything screams fox to me.
Oh, and if it is a coyote, or a fox- they will be hard to trap. No live traps for these guys. Even snares are obvious to them. Buy one, get rid of the scent, and then place it with rubber gloves.

Deer poop looks wayyy different. Like this:
View attachment 1230870

This means my dog has been rolling in fox poop.... fml

 

[PirateGirl]

I've narrowed my verdict down to two:

Raccoon or Fox.

If more of your flock turns up, I'd go with raccoon. If entire flock is gone, I'd go with fox.

Start searching your area for a fox den. Follow your nose. They are mating this time of year and they emit a strong scent. They will be close to a water source...and usually choose an area that drains well. Walk in a circle around your coop, increasing the diameter with each pass. Keep your head down for tracks. Look for their den in hollowed logs, holes with scattered dirt...think a dog digging a hole and any abandoned groundhog holes that have been enlarged. A fox would have brought the whole cache back to the den. There will be evidence.

This makes me regret not buying the book of holes. It was descriptions and pictures of all the holes different animals make to live in, including diameter, to help you identify what animal lives in a hole. Just a bit safer than reaching and arm in and hoping for the best.

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm glad you found a few survivors! I hope a few more come out of hiding.